Gulkand Shrikhand is a delicious and simple dessert recipe made from thick yogurt with sugar, rose compote, rose water, and cardamom. Whether you use homemade hung yogurt or take a shortcut by using store-bought Greek yogurt, this easy dessert is the perfect sweet treat after dinner.
Shrikhand is an Indian dessert that is widely popular in the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. This sweet dish is also popular in Karnataka, but there it is called Shikarni or Shikharini.
My "no-cook no-fail," creamy, thick, and silky-smooth dessert tastes like a tangy cheesecake filling, creamy mousse, or a thick pudding.
Sweetened yogurt is an absolute must at weddings in Maharashtra and Gujarat. This humble dessert is also served at Indian festivals like Gudi Padwa or Ganesh Chaturthi. The Indian festival of colors, Holi, is fast approaching and my Gulkand Shrikhand is an ode to this beautiful festival of colors.
Homemade Gulkand Shrikhand, also known as Rose Shrikhand, is made from just 6 ingredients and is ready to eat in less than 15 minutes. Unlike the store-bought version, it is free from any additives and artificial colors.
All you have to do to make a delicious Gulkand Shrikhand at home is to thicken the plain yogurt.
I also love that I don't have to feel guilty when eating this traditional sweet. A serving of my Gulkand Shrikhand recipe with hung yogurt contains 20% of the daily recommended protein and over 30% of the calcium needed in a day. "Good for you dessert" is no longer a contradiction 😉.
What is Gulkand?
Gulkand aka Gulqand is a delicious rose petal jam made from rose petals. Gulkand is perfect for making summer desserts and drinks. Gulkand is very intense and its rosy fragrance transforms your desserts or drinks into a lush royal delicacy. This rich, sweet, and rosy flavor of Gulkand is simply beyond imagination and fortunately, you can prepare many dishes with this incredibly tasty and fragrant ingredient.
The word "rose" is known in Hindi as "Gul" and "Qand or "Kand" in Hindi refers to something sweet. So the combination of roses and sugar is called "Gulkand".
In ancient times, Gulkand in India was considered a royal and luxurious delicacy due to its laborious cooking process and the use of the royal ingredient, the rose itself.
Gulkand is not so easy to make at home, but of course you can learn it. When I was a child, my grandma made Gulkand at home, and I loved that pot full of sweet, fragrant, and edible roses. Gulkand is so versatile and perfect for so many different occasions.
What is Shrikhand?
Shrikhand is a creamy Indian dessert made from hung curd or strained/passed yogurt, also known as Chakka, sugar, and some spices. According to the traditional and most common recipe, this sweet dish is flavored with cardamom powder and saffron and then garnished with chopped nuts at the end. But it can also be made with many other ingredients.
Gulkand Shrikhand is a dessert made with strained yogurt and flavored with Gulkand, cardamom, and rose water. There are so many variations of Shrikhand itself, such as Kesar-Pista Shrikhand, Mango Shrikhand and many more.
Traditionally, Shrikhand is made with a Puran Yantra (similar to a food mill). But you can also simply use a whisk or an electric beater to make it.
To save time, you can use Greek yogurt instead of plain yogurt. Greek yogurt is already quite thick and does not need to be hung.
Ingredients for Gulkand Shrikhand
Yogurt – Use plain full-fat yogurt to make creamy Shrikhand.
To speed up the process, you can use Greek yogurt. It is already quite thick and therefore does not need to be hung.
If you use homemade yogurt, make sure it hasn't turned sour.
Sugar – Do not use store-bought powdered sugar to sweeten the Shrikhand. Cornstarch is added, which can affect the overall taste.
Powder regular sugar at home in a grinder or mortar and then use it. Depending on how sweet you like it, add more or less sugar.
If you are looking for a healthy substitute, then use coconut sugar, pureed dates, palm jaggery, or artificial sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit.
Gulkand – Gulkand is a compote made from fresh rose petals and sugar. You can find it in Indian grocery stores or online.
Flavoring – While this Shrikhand with Gulabjaal-Elaichi flavor (literally "rose water and cardamom powder") is popular among Indians, the flavor combinations are endless.
Optional – Garnish Gulkand Shrikhand with pistachio slivers and dried rose petals.
FAQs
Can I make vegan Gulkand Shrikhand?
Yes! You can use coconut or any other dairy-free yogurt instead of plain yogurt to make it vegan.
How do you make Gulkand Shrikhand with Greek yogurt?
To make it with Greek yogurt, simply replace thickened yogurt with Greek yogurt. You don't need to strain the whey from Greek yogurt as it is already dense and thick.
What can you do with the leftover whey?
Don't throw away the whey you get after hanging the yogurt. The strained water is quite nutritious and can be used, for example, in sauces, rice and lentil dishes, or to prepare the dough for Roti/Paratha. It gives recipes a nice tangy flavor. It's also great for your houseplants. Sprinkle it over the plants for their healthy growth.
Is this Gulkand Shrikhand recipe scalable?
You can easily double or triple this recipe depending on how many people you want to make it for. It is a simple and easy dessert for large gatherings, is very quick to make, and can also be prepared in advance.
Where can I buy Gulkand ?
You can find Gulkand in Indian grocery stores or buy it online.
Serving Suggestions
Prepare your Gulkand Shrikhand a few hours before serving so the flavors can meld together.
Gulkand Shrikhand Poori is a classic and popular combination, but you can also serve it on its own as a dessert.
Since it is a light dessert, we also like to enjoy it after our daily meals.
Storage Suggestions
It's really great to prepare Gulkand Shrikhand in advance and store it in the fridge so it gets a bit firmer. It tastes good when served chilled. In a clean and dry, airtight container, it will keep for about a week.
Always use a clean and dry spoon to take out Gulkand Shrikhand.
It is also freezer-friendly! You can freeze it in a freezer-safe, airtight container for about one or two months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and enjoy. It may change its texture a bit when thawed, so stir well before eating.
Ingredients for 4 - 6 servings
- 500 g full-fat Greek yogurt or 1 kg full-fat plain yogurt
- 60 g powdered sugar
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tsp rose water
- 60 g Gulkand
- 4-5 tbsp chopped pistachios and dried roses for garnish
- 3-4 tbsp crushed dried rose petals for garnish
Instructions
Making thickened yogurt (Chakka)
Place a fine-mesh sieve over a large bowl and line it with a muslin cloth, paper towels, or a cheesecloth. There should be a small gap between the bottom of the bowl and the bottom of the sieve so that the liquid can collect.
Put the yogurt into the sieve and cover the yogurt with the cloth hanging over the sides. Place the bowl in the refrigerator to drain for 5-6 hours or overnight.
The excess liquid will drip into the bowl and you will get a thick creamy yogurt called Chakka.
If you use Greek yogurt, you can skip the draining step.
Making Gulkand Shrikhand
Put the thickened yogurt into a mixing bowl. Add powdered sugar, ground cardamom, Gulkand and rose water.
Beat with a whisk until frothy. Chill the Shrikhand for 2-3 hours to allow the flavors to blend well.
Transfer the chilled Shrikhand into the serving bowls and garnish it with chopped nuts.
Shrikhand with Poori or serve alone as a dessert.
Tips
- Use a silicone spatula to collect and transfer all the Shrikhand from the bowl.
- To speed up the process, you can use Greek yogurt. It is already quite thick and therefore does not need to be strained. Just mix it with the flavors and your Shrikhand is ready.
- Add more or less sugar depending on how sweet you like it.
- You can easily increase or decrease the recipe quantity as desired.
- Use the collected whey in your next Indian meal for making roti, sauces, rice dishes, lentils, etc. It is very rich in nutrients and offers a nice tangy flavor.
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